10 Questions to Ask Before You Order a Custom Dining Table
A custom dining table is a big purchase, and from the outside a lot of makers look the same. Nice photos, nice words. The difference shows up when you start asking questions.
Here are the 10 we'd ask if we were buying, what a good answer sounds like, and how we answer them at TRM Woodcraft.
The short version
Ask what it's made of, how it's joined, what finish goes on, how long it takes, what the quote includes and what the warranty covers. A good maker answers every one clearly and in writing.
1. Is it solid wood all the way through?
What you want to hear: yes, top to bottom, no veneer and no particleboard or MDF core.
A lot of tables sold as "wood" are a thin veneer glued over particleboard. They look fine on day one, but they can't be sanded and refinished, and a deep scratch goes right through. Every TRM Woodcraft table is 100% solid hardwood. Here's how to tell solid wood from veneer.
2. How is it put together?
What you want to hear: real joinery, like mortise and tenon joints and breadboard ends.
Screws, cam locks and metal brackets are fast and cheap, and they loosen over time. Wood-to-wood joinery is what keeps a table solid for decades.
Solid walnut, mid-build: a round top on a fluted pedestal (left) and a slab top glued up (right).
3. How do you handle wood movement?
What you want to hear: a clear answer, not a blank stare.
Solid wood grows and shrinks a little with the seasons. That's normal. A good maker attaches the top so it can move without cracking or pulling the base apart. If someone can't explain how they handle it, keep looking.
4. What finish goes on it?
What you want to hear: a durable, catalyzed finish, applied in multiple coats.
The finish is what stands between your table and spilled wine, hot plates and homework. We use a commercial-grade conversion varnish, sanded between coats. More in What's the Best Finish for a Dining Table?
Every coat gets sanded before the next one goes on.
5. Can I see the wood and stain before I commit?
What you want to hear: yes, with real samples you can hold in your own light.
Color on a screen never matches color next to your floors and cabinets. You can order real wood and finish samples from us before you decide. Not sure which wood? Start with What's the Best Wood for a Dining Table?
Real samples in white oak (left) and walnut (right).
6. Can you build it to my exact size?
What you want to hear: any length and width, to the inch.
If a "custom" maker only offers three sizes, it isn't really custom. Every TRM Woodcraft table is built to order for your room. Use our dining table size guide to figure out what fits.
7. How long will it take, and when does the clock start?
What you want to hear: a specific number, and an honest answer if your date is tight.
Most of our tables take about 12 weeks to build. The clock starts once your design is final and your deposit is in. Here's what happens during those 12 weeks.
8. What does the quote include?
What you want to hear: a detailed, written quote with size, wood, base, stain and finish spelled out, and delivery listed on its own line.
Every client gets a detailed written quote, priced to their size, wood and design. White-glove delivery is quoted separately based on where you live. Here's what drives the price of a custom table.
9. Will I see it while it's being built?
What you want to hear: yes.
You're paying for something that doesn't exist yet. Progress updates take the guesswork out of it. We send progress photos during every build.
A walnut round at its final check, ready for delivery.
10. What's the warranty, and how do you deliver?
What you want to hear: a written warranty and a delivery team that carries the table in and sets it up.
Every TRM Woodcraft piece comes with a 1-year warranty. Our white-glove delivery team brings it into your home and sets it up, and we deliver nationwide across the lower 48 states.
Delivered and set up in a client's dining room.
Red Flags
- They won't say what's under the surface.
- The base is held on with screws and brackets alone.
- No written quote, or a price that changes once the build starts.
- No answer on timeline, or a promise that sounds too fast.
Common Questions About Ordering a Custom Table
How do I order a custom dining table?
Start with a consultation about your room, size, wood and style. You'll get a detailed quote, and once the design is final, the build begins. Most TRM Woodcraft tables take about 12 weeks.
How much does a custom dining table cost?
It depends on size, wood species, base style and finish. Here's what goes into the price.
Do you work with interior designers?
Yes. Designers can learn about our trade program.
Do you deliver outside Indiana?
Yes. White-glove delivery is available across the lower 48 states and is quoted separately.
Ready to Ask Us?
Bring all 10 questions. Book a free design consultation or browse our dining tables to get started. Every piece is solid hardwood, built to your exact size and handcrafted in Indiana.
